News Index

Dear Devotees of Sriman Narayana,

I am very happy to bring to your kind notice that Srimad Andavan Gopaladesika Mahadesikan of Srimad Andavan Poundareekapuram Swamy Asramam, Srirangam has recently brought out the 2nd edition of Chillarai Rahasyangal Part - I originally edited by Sri U.Ve.Vidwan V.N.Sirrama Desikachariar Swamy of Uppiliappan Koil. Each donor to this work would be sent a complimentary copy at his Indian address. If you have given donation for this work, please inform your Indian address to our asramam for further action.

During 1976, Our Swamiji brought out a second edition of Srimad Rahasyathraya Saram of Sri Vedantha Desika (originally edited by Sri U.Ve V.N.Sriramadesikachariar Swamy and published during 1961) in two volumes. The first volume contains the text with footnotes and explanatory Appendices and the second volume contains, in lucid Tamil, the summary of all chapters of the text. The 2nd edition was brought out keeping in view the convenience of modern readers. For example, the text is partitioned into sections and sub-sections with proper headings, the pramana slokas and pasurams are brought to the appropriate pages in the text, the meanings of difficult words are given in the foot-notes and several explanatory tables and appendices are added. The second edition of Srimad RahasyathrayaSaram became out-of-print during the last five years. Since several Sri Vaishnavas have approached our Asramam for copies, our Swamyji has kindly decided to bring out a the THIRD EDITION. The estimated cost of production of the two volumes is around Rs. 1,50,000/-. Such a task requiring a lot of funds may be executed easily if financial help comes from the well-wishers and philanthrophists. May I therefore request you to donate liberally for this noble cause and receive the blessings of our Swamiji, Swamy Desikan and Sriman Narayana. The over-seas devotees may send their contributions to the following devotees* who in turn will send the total amount collected directly to our Asramam along with their addresses (both within India and their present addresses in the over-seas countries). Each donor will receive one set of books (at their Indian Addresses) when the books become ready.

A free translation of the Srimukam offered by our Swamiji in connection with the publication of the second edition is relevant even now and hence is reproduced here for your kind perusal.

Thanking you for your involvement in this Kanikaryam.

Yours sincerely,

(S.PARTHASARATHY)
With the permission of Srimad Andavan, Poundareekapuram Swamy Asramam, Srirangam.

A FREE TRANSLATION OF THE SRIMUKAM given by Srimad Andavan Gopaladesika Mahasdesikan of Srimad Poundareekapuram Swamy Asramam, Srirangam :

In Srivaishnava Sampradaya four works (called Grantha Chathushtaya) are to be studied under a bonafide Acharya in order to learn about the tatva, hita and purushartha. These works are

1. Sri Ramanujacharya's Sribashyam, which is a commentary on Brahmasutras of Vyasa,
2. Gita Bashya of Sri Ramanujacharya
3. The Bagawatvishayam, an erudite commentary on Thiruvaimozhi of Nammalvar and
4. Srimad Rahasyathrayasaram of Sri Vedantha Desika.

Though it might not be possible for every Srivaishnava to learn all these by the traditional method, it is the duty of every Srivaishnava to learn from an Acharya at least Srimad Rahasyathrayasaram which explains and expounds in an extremely clear manner and in a grand style the most essential ideas of the Vedas, Smritis, Itihasas, Puranas and Brahmasutras. Since this book is out of print, we have made arrangements for bringing out a new edition. This work is a great treasure that must be preserved in the houses of all Srivaishnavas. I pray to Sriman Narayana to bless the well wishers of this activity with His kind Grace.

I want to invite your considered comment on the following project: Publication of old works is very important. In this context I would like to mention about some erudite commentaries on Desika Stores written at the beginning of the current century. These commentaries are in Granta Script. They have to be transliterated into Devanagari/Tamil script first and then printed. A commentary on Daya Satakam written around 1908 by Chaturveda satakaratu Ranganathacharya, running to around 500 pages, will be taken up first. The others will follow suit. Our Swamiji is of the view that these commentaries are the basis for the later translations. Such a project will span over several years and will involve considerable money. If about a dozen NRI persons, who would like to follow the path of Swamy Desika as much as possible, are willing to gladly donate $10 per month for this project, then such a dream may come true. In this context I would like to state the following as broad guidelines.

GUIDELINES FOR DONORS FOR HOLY PUBLICATIONS

Dear Bhaktas,

Adiyen is pleased to announce that tapes from the January 2 and January 9 tele-Upanyasams by H.H. Srimad Andavan Swami of Srimad Poundarikapuram Ashramam are now available. The tapes can be purchased from Adiyen at $5.00 per set (two tapes containing the two Upanyasams). Those interested in purchasing the tapes can contact Adiyen via email.

Narayana Narayana

Narayana dAsan Madhavakkannan